Since 2004, when I first started to gain weight. I've come and gone from it over that time and have only gotten fatter. I'm sort of at my wits' end and I think I need some kind of support from others. I don't really know what I'm doing, clearly, and never have.

My story, as briefly as I can get it: April 2004, I started to gain weight on antidepressants I desperately needed at the time. I was 18 years old, 5'2" and was around 120 lbs. give or take 5 lbs. all through high school, but like every teenage girl, I always thought I was too fat then and wanted to be 110 or less. Only now do I realize how lucky I was to have been at a healthy weight.

Over that summer, I gained about 30 lbs. I was 145-150 by the end of August, and an appalling 176 lbs. by December, when I turned 19. I still remember my mom exclaiming, "176 pounds?! What have you DONE?" when she went to the doctor with me and I was weighed. I felt absolutely terrible and like everything was my fault, but my GP who had been prescribing the antidepressants had never said much about it, other than 'eat more fruit! Bananas! Eat bananas and oranges. You're probably eating more because you're happy now.' Which wasn't so--I was still miserable a lot of the time and had been on at least 5 different antidepressants that year.

I started college in August 2005 at around 180 lbs. and spent the next four years bouncing up 10-20 lbs. and down again, but never going below 185. I graduated in December 2009 and have been around 200 lbs. over this past year.

I turn 25 on December 18th and I'm now around 209 lbs., still 5'2" and still unhappy. I've been on stable medication for years now and have seen all manner of specialists about my issues. In two weeks I'm actually going to see a Chinese herbalist who helped my sister out with her skin and fatigue issues. I'm seriously not sure what to do. In January 2009, I came back here for New Year's resolution-fulfilling, having bought an AirClimber and diligently used it, tracked my food intake and weight for over a month. I started at 191 lbs. and in February I gave up because I was still at 191 lbs. despite some dipping below that weight.

My weight has given me knee problems--I've had my kneecap fall out of alignment painfully and they crunch when I try to do squats--and no doubt contributes to the oppressive fatigue I feel most of the time. I'm always sore, I sleep a lot and whenever I do attempt to exercise as part of a daily routine, I give up after 2-4 weeks out of fatigue and frustration because NOTHING I DO MAKES AN IMPACT.

I'm thinking about ceasing to eat gluten/wheat to see if that would keep me away from everything I find delicious, but I'm certain that I'll fail again. My mom eats all kinds of crap and doesn't really like fruit but she's always been around 125 lbs. her whole life. My dad is about 270 lbs. at 6'1 and actually got a bunch of fat removed surgically from his abdomen about 3 months before I began gaining weight myself. He claims exercise and dieting 'don't work' for him, but has chided me about my weight since I was a skinny teenager. I've got a lot of issues with him, but that's the one that's important here.

My younger sister who just turned 23 is probably the best influence I have. She's 5'4, 130 lbs., comfortable in her skin and eats well. She's cut out a ton of foods because of allergen problems and cooks a lot with vegetables and stuff. However, because we still live with our parents, their influence on my diet is heavy in my life and we've got a full pantry of all manner of crap that I shouldn't be eating. My sister and I are moving to Portland, Oregon (we currently live in the Midwest, which I hate), in February and I'm hoping that living on our own on a shoestring budget in a very pedestrian-oriented/friendly town (where I live, there's basically no public transport and if you don't drive, you're screwed. There's not a lot of pedestrian-friendly areas and most are downtown and I live in the suburbs) will force me to walk, eat less, cook more and lose all this weight. I'd love to be 140 lbs. again, but my eventual goal that I've failed to meet for nearly 7 years is 125 lbs. I'm scared that I'll never reach it, or that when I do, I'll be so stretched-out and deformed and ill that it won't matter. I've got tons of stretch marks from gaining so much so fast and I actually went to a plastic surgeon earlier this year (a desperate liposuction consult, but I elected against it because I need to save money for the move) who told me I'd need both a tummy tuck and brachioplasty to make my stomach and arms look normal.

So. All that said... I guess I just wanted any advice or well-wishes anyone would have. Thank you for reading this if you managed to get this far! Apologies that it's exceedingly self-absorbed and self-pitying. I'll respond to all commentary and probably do some reading of other people's stories (I've actually never gone on the forums here--I think I just felt ashamed and like everyone else would actually be succeeding at their goals and I didn't want to be confronted with it in my own private failure).

Hi J., thank you for putting your story out there. It speaks volumes, and not in a self-pitying or self-absorbed way. I think you have really illustrated a lot of things, including how family forces can affect people environmentally and emotionally, how frustrating it is when nothing makes a difference, and how emotions and weight gain go hand in hand. Antidepressants are a real beotch when it comes to weight gain.

It sounds like you are under a good bit of stress right now, so putting a lot of pressure on yourself in this regard could backfire on you. What would you think about just making a commitment to making healthy choices rather than trying to lose X number of pounds? It takes weeks to develop a habit; maybe by the time you head out to the west coast you can kick it into higher gear when you get settled in? Sometimes in difficult situations, the best goal you can set is to just maintain. Also, making one small change at a time is easier than a complete overhaul, a good thing to keep in mind.

That being said, there are all manner of folks here, and we all succeed at some of our goals and fall flat on others. If you read through the forums, you will definitely see that. A goal doesn't have to be a weight...it can be getting the recommended fiber, or eating four veggies a day, or working out for 30 minutes...a choice, not an outcome. Hopefully you won't still feel like you are failing after digging into these forums. There are definitely going to be things you will succeed at!

Do you have insurance or another option to access a dietician to look at your food and exercise and maybe speculate as to why you didn't see any changes in your current plan? I know that can be expensive, but it's an option.

Hang in there, J., and be gentle with yourself. It didn't happen overnight and it won't go away overnight, but bit by bit you can chip away at it. Pace yourself, be mindful, and come back often to read, contribute, or ask for what you need. Again, I am glad you put your story out there because I think it will hit home for a lot of people.

__________________Cassie

And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.
-John Steinbeck

I think what Cassie said makes a lot of sense. Maybe make some small changes, rather than something overwhelming. Maybe just add some vegetables to your meals one week, add some more or drink some more water another.

Also I want to say you do not sound self pitying to me at all. You sound like someone who has had a lot of challenges and is doing the best she can and trying to make positive changes.

Maybe you can also do some PT for your knee. Try to do whatever physical activity you can because it does make a difference in flexibility and also can help with moods and outlook.

You are still so young; you can turn this around; look how many people are turning their lives around at all ages. And I believe you can do this without surgery. One step, even a small one, at a time. We're rooting for you, honey.

Cassie--Thank you so much for your kind words! I know that other people likely have experienced similar things as me as far as antidepressants and environment are concerned. I do take heart in that because they've overcome it and that means there's some hope for me, too.

I've vacillated from wanting to lose weight and 'be pretty' to just wanting to be healthy, whatever that takes or means, so I go from the goal-oriented MUST LOSE 20 POUNDS IN 3 MONTHS mode of thinking to the LET'S JUST EAT MORE VEGGIES way of thinking and back again. I've had to cut out all red meat and too much dairy from my diet already because of IBS, and I feel like for the most part, I probably eat better than I did as a teenager. However, I'm awful at portion-control and easily overeat when I know I should stop well in advance. I need to try harder to 'maintain' as you say. It IS an uphill battle, though, against cravings.

I actually saw a nutritionist once who just told me to drink more water and I did that, and largely cut out caloric drinks from my diet to no avail. I saw another one who gave me a plan to follow that didn't seem rigid until I tried it and found I just couldn't stick with it when I had school and everything going on. I've got a pamphlet from my doctor to go and get a health assessment from the hospital and plan to do that this week. I just keep wondering if anything I do will help or be something I can stick with.

Thanks again for the comments. I do appreciate them and I'll try to keep coming back to see what others have to say/read their stories and to ask for advice. It's good to know I'm not alone, and I will try to be gentle with myself.

Canary--Thank you very much! I agree with Cassie as well. I've been implementing small changes in my diet for a while now but they just don't seem to add up. I still have issues overeating and I've got a massive sweet tooth. I probably try to go to extremes too often, cutting out EVERYTHING I love instead of just cutting back. I decided that for today I am eating no gluten. My sister recommended I try it for a week and I thought that I would focus on it day by day.

I'm glad I don't come across as self-pitying. I probably used to be moreso when I'd just gained the weight and wanted to lay all the blame on the antidepressants. I did have poor eating habits at the time as well, though. And now I just want to take responsibility and change my life, but I do need help and guidance.

My knee was injured 4 years ago and I underwent PT for it for 3 months. I should try all the exercises again because I think the weight I've gained since then has made it worse this year. My doctor's been telling me that I just need to take off some weight in order for it to feel better, and the fact that I'm ruining my KNEES by being this overweight is really sinking in and making it clear that I have got to change things. "Being pretty" isn't enough of a motivator, but when my health and everyday well-being are compromised... I guess it should be obvious to me what I need to do and how much I need to turn things around before it gets any worse.

Thanks for reminding me that it isn't too late to change things! I do often feel like I shouldn't have let my weight progress to this point, or that I should have just turned things around instantly in 2004 and lost the 30 pounds I'd gained, but looking back, I really was clueless at the time and felt powerless to change it while it was happening. And I can't change what I did or didn't do in the past, so I want to change what I do NOW instead. And thank you for rooting for me!

J., I think what you said about the diet you couldn't stick with is very important. It can be the best, most effective diet in the world, but if it's not something you can stick with, it will do you no good. It takes some experimenting, but if you can find what works for you personally...well, that's more than half the battle. A lot of folks will post what works for them; it's great to read their suggestions, and some of them may be perfect for you. But don't force it if it's not. Keep trying till you find your pattern.

About that portion control...do you have a food scale? They aren't too expensive and are really worth it. Also, little things like serving yourself and then putting the bag or box or plate away could also help. I've even gone so far as to give the food to someone else to hide and divvy things out to me bit by bit if it's something I know I can get carried away on. Or I buy a flavor I like but not love...so I can stop after a serving. After I eat, I chew some gum, brush my teeth, or have a cup of tea or something to signal my brain that eating time is over.

That's what I could think of for now. Glad to see you popping back in. You can probably find a bunch of other threads to chime in on, too. No membership requirements and everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Good luck; you can do this!

__________________Cassie

And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.
-John Steinbeck

I can tell you from personal experience, living in chronic pain will sap your strength and your willpower. I've been dealing with tendonitis and arthritis since my first daughter (now 6) was a year old. I've been through several rounds of physical therapy, more specialists than I can count, antidepressants, and at one point even cut my hair super short because I could not hang on to the brush long enough to care for it long. It wasn't until I started on Celebrex 1 1/2-2 years ago that I could function well enough to have a chance at sticking with this. I've been at this 13 months and though I'm still not at my goal, the scale is still creeping ever so slowly in the right direction, and I haven't gained anything back despite some major stresses in my life. Moving out is a major first step in claiming your life as your own and taking back control. Nothing makes you feel worse than someone criticizing you about things you aren't happy with. Eating because you're depressed, then having someone say stop eating you're too fat... well that just makes you want to say "F it" and eat everything that's not nailed down. Been there, done that. Walking is a wonderful habit to get into. I used to walk for miles and hours, not an option with small kids, I miss it terribly. It's great for clearing your head too. There are things I cannot have in this house, or I will eat the whole package in times of stress. Cheese is a bigtime dangerous item for me. Ice cream tubs are dangerous too, I buy fudgesicles and miniature sized novelties instead. After a year, I'm a heck of a lot better at eyeballing portions, but I still lean heavily on my food scale and measuring cups to keep it accurate. I don't forbid myself anything, because if I "can't" have something I'm going to binge at some point, so I am very strict with portion control on the sweets instead. I used to eat Oreos 8 or more at a time, now 2 is enough, but that sure did not happen overnight.

Long story short, this is a trial and error process for all of us here. Realistically, it will probably take months to figure out what type of person you are and what works for you. But here's the thing, it's not an all-or-nothing situation. Pick one battle at a time, one step at a time, each day just a little different and a little better than it was the day before, and eventually, those little steps add up to a big journey. If you fall, you fall. Doesn't matter how many times you fall, as long as you get up just one more time. You don't have to change it all overnight.

__________________
If I keep starting over, eventually it will stick, right?

I can also relate to the chronic pain because I have fibormylgia which makes exercise extremely difficult. Light activity that used to be like nothing for me can now force me to be bedridden for days. But if I don't do some movement, my back and knee go into spasm. I also have IBS so I can relate to that too, J. I know my advice was nothing you haven't heard a million times but I would also like to say just don't go to extremes and choose a plan that will be too hard to follow. I agree with Lizzy: it is trial and error and it will have its ups and downs. But don't give up! Where there's a will there's a way and I know you will find your way, which may not, as Cassie says, be the same as others but which will work for you. I really believe it will happen for you.

Cassie--Your suggestions are excellent! I will look into getting a food scale. I've resisted one until now, thinking I could do it on my own, but I'm far too permissive and guesswork just doesn't lend itself to accurate portions! And thank you again for the encouragement--I've opened several threads to read to see how others are coping with their struggles.

Lizzy--Thanks for chiming in! I'm sorry to hear of your chronic pain issues. :\ I'm actually taking Celebrex for my knee right now, but it's not helping a lot. I think taking weight off the knee will be my only recourse. Congratulations on how much progress you've made! You're quite right on the temptation front, and also on the self-esteem front. I feel like moving out WILL help me a great deal, but I'm going to try and make some stabs at progress in the meantime. I feel you on the pints of ice cream--I know not to buy them because I'll eat them in one or two sittings rather than four or more. And I eat far too many Oreos at once, too. Portion control and stopping when I've really had enough is probably my biggest issue.

Canary--My mom suffers from fibromyalgia, too, and she thinks I have it, but I feel like my problems run towards CFS. I've been worn-out since I was a teenager and easily sleep anywhere from 10-18 hours at once. Working up the energy to exercise is really difficult. And I appreciate your advice! Thank you very much for your belief that I'll find success. I'm understanding now that it's far more trial-and-error than I thought. I sort of figured if I couldn't stick with something, it was *my* fault because X or Y method was clearly working for other people! But I'll find my own path.

Thanks again, everyone, for your support & kind words! It does mean a lot to me. I've kept up a gluten-free regimen for two days now and seem to have lost a little weight on it. I'm going to try to make it through the week with no wheat to see how that goes. I think focusing on exactly one task/limitation at a time is the most I can handle right now and this is easier than I thought it would be--but only because my sister's been doing it for years and has all the right foods sorted out!

Hey! I've just skimmed this thread - but are you still on antidepressants?

I was on Paxil for 5 years. In which time I went from 150 (5'7) to 199 lbs. Was also living with parents at the time, and in my twenties. I decided not to carry on taking it.

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Digression on that:
This might be controversial, but frankly, I'm anti anti-depressants now. In my case, I found it flattened all the good aspects of my sensitivity, and left me numb, but with the same life problems. Except I didn't care about them any more. I was a trained singer, and I stopped caring about music. I used to be very attuned to people's feelings. That stopped - I'd just blurt things out, without any censorship. Made for awkwardness that I could recognize, but not feel. I lost my intellectual drive, which was a defining trait, all my life. Good news: most of these qualities, as I'll call them crudely, have come back.

I found my experience confirmed by many, many people. Since then (five years on), there's been an increasing volume of scholarship showing anti-depressants are no better than placebo. (Studies that showed this had not been published by the FDA or by professional journals.) Anti-depressants are worse than placebo, because you get the noxious side effects (some of which include depression, anxiety, and insomnia - what's the point?) If you want links to more information, let me know.

My view now is that you can manage mood with exercise. You can get better at living in the world by doing it. Small steps always. Meaning is always a problem. Journalling helps me a lot (google 'expressive writing'). Reading does too. Curtailing ruminating behaviours is important. I really believe in old-school occupational therapy. Keeping busy with some silly and not so silly hobbies is a kind of magic. Also, these things enrich your life, and make you better...

If I'm totally honest, my life took some dark turns after what I'd thought was my bottom. I can't discount that. Now, I'm grateful for every minute. I feel more positive about life in general, and am *finally* focussed on what I need to do.

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A big move was part of all this. I left my parents' (also suburban) house for a big city. I did this after discontinuing my Paxil use - that, by the way, took a year. (Don't even try it without research, if it's something you want to do. )

I lost 50 lbs in 6 months. I didn't particularly change my diet or exercise - it was just walking every day, and working. (Had been a terrible student for too long.)

Moving to Portland will do you a WORLD of good. Glad you have your sister. Hopefully that's a solid relationship! Suggest working hard to do your own thing when you get there, so as to avoid strain - you guys'll have all kinds of stresses just from the move.

Sorry for ramming my opinions down your throat. I know things are hard for you right now. You wouldn't be taking ADs if you felt you had another choice, if things weren't as bad as they've been. I had a similar experience, and came out the other end.

I don't have fibromyalgia, so can't speak to that - but all my life have had various aches and pains, and a sluggish energy. I thought I'd be that way forever. Exercise has really, really helped all this. Moving out helped more! I mean I'm not the Energizer bunny or anything, but I can get a lot more done in a day than before. Still have problems with organization, and am working on sleep (could fill another page on that, with more advice), but it's improving.